Automatic lubricator for gasoline engines



Jan. 15, 1924. Y

T. H. CUMMINGS AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR FOR GASOLINE mamas Filed Dec. 23. 1921 fia' 2 Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

one stares ensa PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. CUMMINGS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HATTIE i L. CUMMINGS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR FOB GASOLINE ENGINES.

Application filed December 23, 1921. Serial No. 524,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. CUM- Mnms, a citizen oi the United States, and resident of the city of St. Louis, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Lubricators for Gasoline Engines, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in autpmatic oilers for gasoline engines, and has for its primary object an oiler in which a quantity of oil can be stored, and which will automatically feed oil to the crank case as it is used.

A further object is to construct an automatic oiler which will maintain a constant level with lubricating oil within the crank I case of a gasoline engine.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a gasoline engine with my device attached thereto, with parts of the crank case broken away and in section;

F 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2, of 3 viewed in the direction of the arrow, with parts of the reservoir broken away and in section; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 -3 of Fig. 2, viewing the same in the direction of the arrow.

In the construction of my device, 1 represents the crank case of a gasoline engine and 5 the drain plug. Secured to the crank case is a feed pipe 6, which is provided with a stop cock 7 so that the pipe can be shut off from the crank case.

The pipe 6 terminates in an auxiliary reservoir 8, which may be formed integral with or secured to the main reservoir 9 in any well known manner such as soldering and the like, in which latter case the auxiliary reservoir consists of a top, a bottom, one side and two ends, the wall of the main reservoir forming the remaining side. The wall 10 of the reservoir is provided with a plurality of openings 11, these openings being adjacent the bottom of and opening into the reservoirs 8 and 9. At a distance above the openings 11 is an opening 12, which is also formed through the wall 10 and opens into the reservoirs 8 and 9.

The reservoir 8 is provided on its upper end with a stop cock 13 which when operated acts as an air vent. The reservoir 9 is provided with a gauge glass 14: so that the amount of lubricant contained in the reservoir can be readily determined.

The reservoir 9 is also provided with a filler neck 15 on which a screw cap 16 is secured. This is for the purpose of making the reservoir 9 air-tight as will be fully explained later.

It is essential in the construction of my device that the upper edge of the opening 12 be on a line with the oil level in the crank-case. The reservoir 9 is secured either to the crank case or other suitable part of the engine by means of a bracket 17.

The operation of my device is as follows: After the device .has been secured to the engine, the sto cocks 7 and 13 are closed, the cap 16 removed and the reservoir 9 filled with oil. The cap 16 is then replaced, making the reservoir 9 airtight. The stop cock 7 is opened, and then the stop cock 1?). The opening of the stop cook 13 permits air to pass into the auxiliary reservoir 8, then through the opening 12, where it rises through the oil while the oil contained in the reservoir 9 flows into the reservoir 8 through the openings 11, and from there through the pipe 6 into the crank case 1.

When the oil in the crank case has arisen to a height equal to the upper edge of the opening 12, the reservoir 8 will also be filled to that point. This seals the air vent 12 and prevents any more air from entering the reservoir 9, thus stopping the flow of oil from the reservoir 9 into the auxiliary reser voir 8.

l/Vhen the oil level in the crank case 4: has dropped and lowered the oil level in the auxiliary reservoir sufiiciently to uncover theopening 12, air will again be admitted to the reservoir 9 and permit oil to flow into the auxiliary reservoir.

By the use of my device it is possible to always carry a large reserve of lubricant for the crank case, and the motorist is not dependent upon oil stations along the road to keep the proper supply of lubricant within the case.

My device can be readily attached to anyone of the oil level cocks now present in the crank case of an automobile engine, and eliminates the necessity of testing the crank case to ascertain whether a sulticient amount of oil is. contained.therein,asit isonly-nec essary ,tdra se the hood to view ,the sight.

glass let to ascertain the contents of the reservoir 9. If this reservoir contains oil it is an assured fact-that there is sufiicientoil in the crank case.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An automatic lubricator,,.for gasoline.

vided. with an air. tight closure. on its. top I for {the introduction of. lubricant, oil ,passages formed in',one wall thereof adjacent its bottom, an air ,passa'ge formed in saidv iwall adjacent toand above. said firstmen-v plane as the bottom of the main reservoir,

a.stopcockforadmitting air to the auxiliary reservoir, a stop cock secured to the bottom. ofsaid auxiliary reservoir, a pipesecured to the la st mentioned stop cock and .to the crank .case of a ,gasoline engine, 1 and a bracket for securing the main reservoir to the, ,crank case out said engine,

2.. An automatic, lubr cator for gasoline engines comprising a main reservoir provlded onn ts top WIth an airtlght closure for reservoir to which the auxiliary reservoir is attached serving as the sixth side thereof, a

stop cock for admitting air, to the auxiliary reservoir, securedyto the top. thereof, pipe securedto the auxiliary reservoir at its bottom and communicating with the crank case at a point below the mean oil level to be maintainml therein, a stopcock located between-the auxiliary reservoir and crank case for-shutting off the flow of oil thereto, and a bracket for securing the main reservoir to the crankcase of a gasoline enginein such a position that when the mean oil level in the crank caseis attained, the air vent will beclosed of]? by the lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS H.- CUMMINGS. 

